As I read Impact Players by Liz Weisman, I thought of several wonderful staff members that I was lucky enough to supervise throughout my career — the ones who were indeed Impact Players. Weisman outlines five mindsets — that lead to different behaviors — of those who multiply their impact vs. those who are contributors. There are many contributors who do strong and valuable work, but Impact Players make a greater mark on the organization, by reframing their response in these five areas:
- Messy Problems: Seeing the opportunity to solve them as a chance to be useful vs. a distraction
- Unclear Roles: A chance to provide (often temporary) leadership to bring people together to clarify responsibilities — stepping up, then stepping back to let others own the situation once things have been made clear
- Unforeseen Obstacles: Rather than escalating the problem or seeing it as a hassle, Impact Players work to resolve the issue
- Moving Targets: Adjusting to changing goals allows Impact Players to build new capabilities and skills — they are seen as another opportunity rather than a detour from the “real work”
- Unrelenting Demands: Impact Players attempt to “make work light” for those around them, providing a productive work environment for others
Impact Players “do the job that’s needed” vs. just doing their job. Sometimes that means going above and beyond to solve system problems or organizational issues that cross boundaries but they take the initiative to do so, spending their time working on what is most important for their manager and the organization as a whole. They tackle the thorny issues that others avoid — and as a result, contribute the most value.
Regardless of your position, everyone can adopt the mindset of an Impact Player. Wiseman’s book provides many examples and strategies — and is realistic enough to know that most players only exhibit three of the five practices. The key is to reframe how you think about your role and get started making a difference with your work.
Impact Players: How to take the lead, play bigger, and multiply your impact by Liz Wiseman, 2021
